ALBION are set to step up their interest in Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu.

The Baggies have been monitoring the 33-year-old's situation for some time with a view to a permanent move in this month's transfer window, as revealed in yesterday's Birmingham Mail.

Sources in the north-east claim negotiations between the clubs are further down the line than first thought for the ex-England central defender.

Albion are keen to thrash out a deal that will enable them to take over the remainder of Ehiogu's contract, which runs out at the end of this season - a similar arrangement to the one that took Kevin Campbell to The Hawthorns last January.

Middlesbrough want to strengthen their squad, but manager Steve McClaren has been told he must trim the wage bill before he is allowed to add to his ranks.

If the move comes off, the ex-Villa man would be reunited with Bryan Robson, who signed the four-times capped defender for #8million during the final year of his managerial spell at Middlesbrough in October 2000.

The Baggies are refusing to reveal the identity of their January targets but a club spokesman said: "We have several irons in the fire. Like all clubs at the start of the transfer window, we are making inquiries down several avenues."

Ehiogu, who started his career at The Hawthorns before a cut-price move to Villa in 1991, was pulled out of Boro's squad for Monday's clash with Newcastle prompting renewed speculation a move could be imminent.

He has found his opportunities restricted this season due to a knee injury and the form of Chris Riggott.

And Robson is keen to bolster his back-line, despite an impressive run of four successive Hawthorns' clean sheets being ended by Villa on Monday.

Beyond Neil Clement and Curtis Davies, he only has Darren Moore and Thomas Gaardsoe, both of whom have failed to impress during their first-team outings this season.